A PROJECT that aims to prevent more deaths at a notorious Hampshire junction has been delayed by the need to safeguard the environment.

Hampshire County Council has embarked on a £450,000 scheme to make Ipley Crossroads safer by turning it into a staggered junction, preventing motorists from driving straight across.

A new stretch of road will be built across an environmentally-sensitive area of New Forest heathland.

Engineers aim to minimise the use of imported material by recycling the upper layers of the old road. Additional testing was needed to ensure the recycled material was suitable and the analysis of test results has delayed the programme.

People living in the area claim little activity is taking place on the site.

A county council spokesperson said: “It was hoped the improvement works could be completed by the middle of December, but a number of technical difficulties have been encountered and resolving these is taking longer than expected. We remain hopeful that work can be completed early in the new year.”

County councillor David Harrison, who represents nearby Marchwood, added: "The site is of such high ecological importance that only certain materials are permitted to be used in the construction process."

The road between Ipley Crossroads and Beaulieu Road railway station has been closed for several weeks.

Last month a progress report issued by the county council said the authority needed to obtain alternative materials to minimise any impact on the environment.

The update added: "It was a requirement that the old road be removed in order to transpose heathland from the new road location to the old, so we are currently unable to open up a route through the site."

As reported in the Daily Echo, Ipley Crossroads has been the scene of more than 50 injury accidents - including two fatalities - over the past 20 years.